THE EARLY PRESS

Gisborne Times, Volume LXVI, Issue 10473, 31 December 1927, Page 4 (Supplement)

THE EARLY PRESS

.JOURNALISTIC REAIINISCKNCRB

“COPY” IN THE SEVENTIES.

(By H..J.8.)

In the early days of 1878 the task of issuing a daily newspaper in Gisborne was one beset by many difficulties—as communication Hy steamer was very uncertain and frequent long delays occurred in picturing supr*!ies of paper necessary for its production. The pit was then served by th' s.s. “Pretty Jane” from Auckland, and from the South by the s.s. “Bnngitira." At times it so haprnccl that .supplies would be out in the Bay for days be 1 ere being available. On one occasion tho st of news print of both papers bad run out. and this necessitated one journal having to search the town for a sufficient supply for its next issue. Mr good chance a few reams of white wrapping paper were mi.

earthed in a merchant’s store, nhicli then stood ni the site where the Band Rotunda is now situated on the riverside. The anxiety for the next isfue was relieved by the “Jane” negotiating the bar and berthing at the wharf next day. Bring isolated, both by steadier and road communication, tendered it a. di.ficult matter at times to supply suffii ient “bepy” to fill the columns of the then four-page daily issue. Tho local journals _ were prohibited, under severe penalties, from publishing cither “cables’' or “wires” until the expiry of a stated period had elapsed from them appearing in the “first grade’ papers its the principal centres.

Hence the arrival of “exchanges were eagerly awaited 1 w sub-editors and it was no uncommon occurrence to insert “pars” and “wires” slipped from contemporaries and serve them up under “Fhis I)a\ s 1 tendings. On one occasion a popular advance agent of a touring concert company, scanning tile current clay’s issue ot one journal, exclaimed “Sure, this is some ‘News Buster!'” Picking.out certain items under ‘this clay’s interprovincial news, he declared lie

had read them in the South Island some clays previously. The prestige of the paper was at stake! The prompt reply was: this was easily accounted tor by Gisborne being geographically siturted so many degrees “further north.” The response wa.s “S<n. come and sell tickets tor mein the box office to-night,” and half-a-dozen “ecmplimentai ies” for the staff handed out . 'A

The competing room of the newspapers was the resort of many “old timers,” who would diop in with an item of nows. A fro jnent visitor was a dear old partly crippled French priest - Father Chnstngnon—always humorous and full cf quaint sayings. Nothing would suit but that he must assist in some fjqy, and finally he was provided with a pair of “eases” and a composing “stick.’ Gnat was Ir’s delight when he was shown tlic “proof”' of the First few lines, the lesult of some Riours of “sotting.”

On one occasion a. disastrous fire threatened the destruction of the printing office, and it was deemed advisable to remove portion of the plant-to a place of safety. The good Father, with the Best of intention to help was found endeavoring to move one of the hcavv news “formes,” which providential l '' was rescued in time from being converted into a lic.ap'of “Bi'infeis’ Pie.” A kindly, good-lirartod s.tml was the little French “Pore.” Jn the early days, the delivery of the paper to the country subscribers was a matter of extreme difficulty, and it was a common crcurrcnrc lb" one day's issue to lie dclivcied the afternoon of the day Vllcwing publication. During several months of the winter season, the principal rands . were veritable quagmires, with mud up lo tile' horse’s i.’hs. It became quite a common yactiee to walk inside the boundary ■-'tiers, leading the horse outside! The country “runner” had a most strenuous time, haying tt/ykeep twg

and lliSvo horses at various places to complete liis. round. How different lrom tin; present conditions! Settlers 4 arc now served with a daily issue in'all parts of the district within :i;i hour or so of publication,